Despite the box office success of L2: Empuraan, Thudarum, and Lokah this year, the Malayalam film industry is witnessing one of its lowest production phases ever.
Reports reveal that only six new films were registered last month with the chamber, compared to the usual 20–25 films each month. This sharp decline has sparked serious discussion within the industry.
According to several Malayalam film trackers, while traditional producers continue to stay in the business, many new producers are backing out from launching projects. A few have even withdrawn their previously announced films due to financial uncertainty.
Experts highlight that though Malayalam cinema is admired across India for its diverse storytelling, only a handful of films actually perform well. The majority struggle to recover production costs and end up as box office failures.
For instance, during the Onam season, films like Lokah, Mohanlal’s Hridayapoorvam, and Fahadh Faasil’s Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira were released. While Lokah emerged as an industry hit, Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira suffered huge losses.
Made with a budget of around ₹30 crore, Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira reportedly earned just ₹5 crore worldwide. Trackers argue that despite a few big successes, the Malayalam industry’s overall growth is being misjudged.
They believe that the industry is currently in a down phase and hope it will stabilise soon with the release of upcoming projects. Meanwhile, this low production trend has become a major topic on social media, drawing strong reactions from film lovers.
